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Karnataka High Court refuses to suspend sentence imposed on Prajwal Revanna in rape case
Karnataka govt. finds itself in quota conundrum
The recent High Court order asking the government not to issue any fresh notifications on recruitment based on enhanced reservation has put it in a quandary
Thousands of recruitments will be on hold till further orders of the High Court: KEA
Even as North Karnataka witnessed protests in several places, Convener of Karnataka Job Seekers Agitation Committee Yallappa Hegade hit out at the government for the current impasse.
Persons with disabilities are not inferior to anyone, says Horatti
Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti has said that physically challenged children had excelled in every field and they were in no way inferior to normal people.
SC Agrees to Hear Pleas for Review of May 16 Verdict on Claim over Bengaluru ISKCON Temple
The top court on May 16 had set aside the Karnataka High Court's May 2011 order giving control of the Bengaluru temple to the Mumbai faction of ISKCON
Raj Bhavan renamed Lok Bhavan in Karnataka
The change is made in accordance with communication from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and has been approved by the Governor of Karnataka.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar defended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against BJP criticism regarding their expensive Cartier watches. Shivakumar stated both leaders have the right to wear what they like, mentioning he purchased his watch for Rs 24 lakh in Australia seven years ago and declared it. The BJP accused Siddaramaiah of extravagant socialism while the state faces drought.
Complaint filed against Ranveer Singh for mocking Kantara at IFFI
A Karnataka-based advocate has filed a complaint against Ranveer Singh for allegedly mocking the sacred Daiva (Bhoota Kola) tradition during IFFI 2025. He has requested an FIR under multiple BNS sections for hurting religious sentiments
No Delhi trip without invitation: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he would not travel to New Delhi unless he is formally invited. His comments come after Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumars visit to New Delhi on Wednesday to attend a wedding and to plan for a party event. The two leaders recently displayed bonhomie by hosting Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Countries like Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Zambia offer menstrual leave, and Karnataka now places India among a few nations recognising it in labor policy
SC to review earlier verdict on ISKCON Bangalore temple ownership
The Supreme Court will re-examine its May 2025 ruling on the Bengaluru ISKCON temple ownership. A review petition filed by ISKCON India has been accepted. The court will reconsider its earlier decision which declared the ISKCON Karnataka Society as the owner. ISKCON India maintains that only the 1971 Mumbai registration is the official ISKCON society in India.
FIR against owners, representative of Rameshwaram Cafe for selling noxious food
Owners of Rameshwaram Cafe in Karnataka and a senior executive have been booked for allegedly serving noxious food and filing a false extortion case against a customer who reported finding a worm in his meal
Tense Situation In Karnataka's Srirangapatna As Devotees Attempt To Storm Jamia Masjid
Security tightened in Srirangapatna as Hanuma Maladharis tried to storm Jamia Masjid during Hanuman Jayanti, amid claims it was built over Anjaneya Temple.
IndiGo has cancelled over 70 flights nationwide due to crew shortages, significantly impacting operations from Bengaluru and Mumbai. The airline cited technology issues, airport congestion, and operational requirements, but sources point to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms as the primary cause.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar downplayed slogans raised in his support, calling them routine political enthusiasm and not a cause for over-interpretation. He emphasized unity within the Congress government ahead of the assembly session and confirmed his departure for Delhi to attend a private function and a party protest.
It's Of No Use: Siddaramaiah's Banter With Pure Vegetarian Reporter
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had breakfast at the residence of his deputy, DK Shivakumar, amid a power tussle within the ruling party.
C-CAMP sets up Centre of Excellence for sustainability & climate action
Bengaluru's C-CAMP has launched a dedicated Centre of Excellence for climate action, a significant step into climate biotechnology. Partnering with Ashraya Hastha Trust, the initiative will champion biological solutions for reducing emissions and sequestering carbon. Karnataka's health minister inaugurated the centre, emphasizing the critical links between climate, health, and livelihoods, and pledging state support for practical, science-led climate responses.
BENGALURU: Experience is the best teacher. Using all the good and bad experiences a group of parents and students have come together and launched an App to help students and parents find the best career paths, courses and colleges not just base don the wards' marks but aptitude, interest and skill. Conceptualised in 2024, the Appli app was launched in March 2025. The teams had participated in Elevate 2024 and were one of the finalists in the Karnataka category. Post pandemic, the internet and mobile penetration among students increased to over 95%. Making the best opportunity of this, we launched this App and dashboard to help students and parents, eliminating middlemen and at no extra cost, said Prasad Nanjunda, Founder and CEO of the app. In the last eight months, they have partnered with colleges in Bengaluru, Tumkuru, Tiptur, Mysuru and many other districts. Colleges from neighbouring states are also being added to the list. According to them over 1.3 lakh students have downloaded the App. Along with helping students across all boards, our primary aim is to help students in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. To ensure there is seriousness in our working and people have faith, we charge a maximum of Rs 25 per college application. Our first student was a daughter of a farmer and carpenter from Devanahalli, he said. Explaining the start of the Bootstrap financial mode based firm, Akshay Bellubbi, Marketing Head said, the first six months were spent on the ground work. Our homework also included our past experiences we carried. For the next six months, a lot of networking and meetings with Vice Chancellors, university and college heads and government institutions were held. The details of the colleges include curriculum, fees, hostel and transport, college ranking as per government institutions and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). We are a team of 12 people and each one of us have our own expertise and experience that we have carried to help students. Once the App is downloaded, the student fills in all the required details, including present education status, marks and interest. Following this, course details are listed for the applicant to choose from. Then based on the discovery of subjects, choices and interests, a match of the right courses is listed for the candidate to choose from, the team members said. The details of colleges is also listed based on the preferences made. Civil services guidance is also being offered and in future we are also working on offering placement options based on the internships done. The list of options offered also includes Union and State governments offered internships in Karnataka, they added.
Punjab records highest groundwater extraction in India, says CGWB report
CHANDIGARH: Groundwater extraction in the country is the highest in Punjab, followed by Rajasthan and Haryana, according to the latest National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025 report of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The findings show that 25 per cent of the 6,762 total blocks in India have been categorised as over-exploited, critical or semi-critical, a situation concentrated in nine states, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. As per the report, groundwater extraction in Punjab stands at 156.36 per cent, the highest in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 147.11 per cent and Haryana at 136.75 per cent, all significantly above the national average of 60.63 per cent. At the national level, annual groundwater extraction has seen a marginal decline, from 27.66 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2023 to 26.27 BCM last year. The total annual ground water recharge of Punjab has been assessed as 18.6 bcm and annual extractable ground water resource as 16.8 bcm. Out of total 153 assessment units including three urban areas taken for study, 111 assessment units (72.55 per cent) have been categorized as Over-exploited, 10 blocks (6.54 per cent) as Critical, 15 blocks (9.80 per cent) as Semi Critical and 17 blocks (11.11 per cent) as Safe, the report said. Similarly, out of 50175.27 square kilometers recharge worthy area of the state, 34294.3 sq km (68.35 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 4353.15 sq. km (8.68 per cent) under Critical, 4478.11 sq km (8.92 per cent) under Semi-critical and 7049.71sq km (14.05 per cent) under Safe category, reads the report. For Rajasthan, the report states,Out of the 302 assessment units (blocks and urban areas), 213 units (70.53 per cent) have been categorized as Over Exploited, 23 units (7.62 per cent) as Critical, 27 units (8.94 per cent) as Semi-Critical, 36 units (11.92 per cent) blocks as Safe and 3 units (0.99 per cent) as Saline. Similarly, out of 317010.74 sq km recharge worthy area of the state, 222266.46 sq km (70.11 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 19404.23 sq. km (6.12 per cent) under Critical, 22535.05 sq km (7.11 per cent) under Semi-critical, 43869.11 sq km (13.84 per cent) under Safe and 8935.89 sq km (2.82 per cent) area under Saline categories of assessment units. In Haryana, the situation is similar. While in Haryana, out of total 143 assessment units (blocks/Urban), 91 units (63.64 per cent) have been categorized as Overexploited, 6 units (4.20 per cent) as Critical, 15 units (10.49 per cent) as Semi Critical and 31 units (21.68 per cent) as Safe categories of assessment units. Similarly, out of 43,205.81 sq. km recharge worthy area of the State, 26,828.05 sq. km (62.09 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 1,170.46 sq. km (2.71 per cent) under Critical, 4,253.89 sq. km (9.85 per cent) under Semicritical, 10,953.42 sq. km (25.35 per cent) under Safe categories of assessment units, it added. The report assesses the total annual groundwater extraction of the entire country for 2025 at 247.22 bcm. Agriculture remains the largest consumer, accounting for 87 per cent, or 215.10 bcm, followed by 11 per cent for domestic use (27.89 bcm) and 2 per cent for industrial use (4.23 bcm). In the present assessment, total annual groundwater recharge has been pegged at 448.52 bcm, while the annual extractable groundwater resource stands at 407.75 bcm. The average stage of groundwater extraction at the national level is 60.63 per cent. Out of 6,762 blocks in the country, 730 units (10.80 per cent) are categorised as over-exploited, and 201 blocks (2.97 per cent) are classified as critical where extraction ranges from 90 to 100 per cent. Another 758 blocks (11.21 per cent) fall under the semi-critical category, while 4,946 units (73.14 per cent) are considered safe, with extraction below 70 per cent. Additionally, 127 blocks (1.88 per cent) have been listed as saline due to brackish or saline groundwater in phreatic aquifers. The report highlights that the percentage of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks exceeding 25 per cent of total units is found only in nine states, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It attributes the situation to region-specific factors, Over-exploitation of ground water resources could be due to various region-specific reasons. The assessment units located in the north-western part of the country (particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) have plenty of replenishable ground water resources but because of the over extraction beyond the annual ground water recharge, many of these units have become Over-exploited. Overexploited units are also common in the western part of the country, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat where the prevailing arid climate results in low recharge of ground water and hence stress on these sources, the report stated. It further adds, In peninsular India, over-exploited units are wide spread in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which could be attributed mainly to the low storage and transmission capacities of aquifers of the hard rock terrains, which results in reduced availability of the resource. The report also notes that in Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, domestic groundwater extraction exceeds 40 per cent. Groundwater extraction stands between 90 and 100 per cent in Delhi, and between 70 and 90 per cent in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In most other states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, extraction levels are around 70 per cent. The report concludes that compared to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment of 2024, the total annual groundwater recharge has marginally increased from 446.9 bcm to 448.52 bcm.
Karnataka Caste Census Stuck As 13 Departments Ignore Deadline, Face Govts Ire
Major departments, including Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Urban Development, Housing, and School Education have not uploaded the necessary information
Aequs: An underdog IPO at the heart of India's $3 billion aerospace tailwind
Aequs, a niche aerospace manufacturer, is attracting attention with its Rs 922 crore IPO amid strong growth in Indias aircraft component sector and shifting global supply chains. Analysts highlight its advantage from timing, positioning, and long-standing relationships, while its Karnataka SEZ campus offers a rare fully integrated ecosystem covering machining, forging, surface treatment, and assembly.
In Karnataka, Thieves Didnt Crack The ATM, They Wheeled It Away On A Pushcart
Initially, the gang tried to break open the ATM lock. When that failed, they switched tactics. They brought a pushcart, lifted the entire ATM onto it, and quietly wheeled it away.
Karnataka power tussle: Congress' KC Venugopal met with loud DK, DK chants at airport watch
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar showcased unity after a second breakfast meeting, declaring they would govern together. This display follows a directive from the Congress high command to project solidarity ahead of the Belagavi legislature session, aiming to quell internal power tussle.
Cafe will pave way for womens empowerment, says Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre
MapmyIndia Mappls partners with Zoho CRM for location intelligence
MapmyIndia will integrate Address CaptureandNearby Lead Finderfeatures directly withinZoho CRM
Is the Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Moving to NDA Amid Power Tussle? No!
An old video of Naidu and Shivakumars airport run-in is going viral with claims that he is set to join the NDA.
Nearly 40 companies sign up for JITO job fair in Belagavi
Around 2,750 youth have registered as of now
Fan Takes Lawrence Bishnoi Photo To Hanuman Birthplace In Karnataka, Fury Erupts
When questioned by devotees and staff, the youth openly identified himself as a fan of the gangster. He reportedly claimed that the country would be saved by Bishnoi.
Karnataka's Caste Survey Delayed Yet Again As Thirteen Government Departments Are Yet To Submit Data
| Karnataka's caste survey delayed yet again as thirteen government departments are yet to submit data, , , , , , , n18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar shared breakfast at DK Shivakumar's residence on Tuesday amid the ongoing power tussle in the state. The chief minister playfully told a female reporter that she is missing something in life when he learnt that she is a pure vegetarian. The two leaders enjoyed nati koli saaru, idlis, vada and pongal for the breakfast.
SC stays trial against former Karnataka CM Yediyurappa in POCSO case
NEW DELHI: In a major relief to former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, the Supreme Court on Tuesday in its order stayed the trial proceedings against him in a sexual harassment case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Issue notice. Meanwhile, trial proceedings shall remain stayed, a two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, said. The top court added that the notice was being issued primarily to consider remanding the matter back to the high court for next course of action in the case. The bench of the apex court passed the interim order while hearing Yediyurappas plea challenging the Karnataka High Courts refusal to quash the case. The BJP strongman has vehemently denied the allegations, as he had said that he had merely attempted to assist a distressed mother-daughter duo he found near his residence, even contacting the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner to help them. During the hearing on Tuesday, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Yediyurappa, said the high court had ignored key evidence and failed to consider statements suggesting that nothing as such happened during the alleged incident. There are certain statements which prosecution suppresses the high court ignored facts. He has been chief minister four times, Luthra added. The FIR under the POCSO Act arises from a complaint filed on March 14, 2024 by a woman, now dead, who alleged that Yediyurappa molested her 17-year-old daughter during a visit to his residence to seek assistance. She in her complaint further alleged that the former CM attempted to hush up the incident by offering money. Based on her complaint, the police registered an FIR under various provisions of the POCSO Act pertaining to offences of sexual assault and harassment. Luthra submitted that crucial statements were suppressed by the prosecution, and despite several inconsistencies, the trial court had proceeded mechanically. The prosecution alleged he took the girl into a room, held her by the wrist, and molested her before she managed to resist and escape.
Karnataka High Court rejects bail pleas of five accused in Bikla Shiva murder case
BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court dismissed the bail petitions filed by five accused in connection with the murder of Shivaprakash aka Bikla Shiva. Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav dismissed the petitions filed by K Kiran, Vimal Raj B, Madan R, Pradeep and S Samuvel. They challenged the order dated October 17, 2025, passed by the trial court. The trial court rejected their applications seeking to enlarge them on default bail and extended time for investigation and for filing of final report under the provisions of BNS and Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA). Vijayalakshmi, mother of the deceased, filed the complaint with Bhrathinagar police on July 15, 2025, alleging that her son was murdered. Later, the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which invoked the KCOCA against all the accused. The court passed the order after considering the independent report filed by the Additional State Public Prosecutor (ASPP) B N Jagadeesha, citing the specific reasons for continuing the accused in judicial custody beyond 90 days. In the report, it was stated by the ASPP that the persons involved in the crime are indulging in real estate and have criminal antecedents and provisions of the KCOCA have been invoked against them. If they are released on bail at this stage, there are chances of pressuring the witnesses. The report has also stated that the investigation is still going on into the alleged involvement of MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, and there is a danger to the lives of the mother of the deceased and people close to him who are the witnesses. The accused persons are habitual offenders, and they may be involved in similar offences if they are enlarged on bail. The first accused, Jagadeesha aka Jagga, who took shelter abroad after the murder, was returned to the country after issuance of a Blue Corner notice, the report stated, while seeking rejection of the petitions.
PUCL, family of custodial death victim Darshan demand judicial inquiry into Viveknagar police action
BENGALURU: Activists of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Karnataka, and family members of Darshan, 22, who died due to the alleged torture by Viveknagar police, have demanded that a judicial inquiry be ordered into the case instead of a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Following the illegal detention and custodial torture of 22-year-old Darshan, who died on November 26, the Viveknagar Police Inspector and three police personnel were suspended on Tuesday. Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, YJ Rajendra, vice-president of PUCL, alleged that the police have been threatening Darshans wife to withdraw the case after his death. She has also been offered money. Darshan was allegedly illegally detained by Viveknagar police on November 12. He was allegedly tortured and assaulted, and later sent to a rehabilitation centre on November 16. On November 26, he died at the rehabilitation centre,Prof Rajendra said. PUCL has formed a fact-finding team of advocates and members from various organisations. Though Darshan was illegally detained, the police did not give any memo to his family,PUCL members said. Darshans mother Adilakshmi said though he suffered injuries, the police did not take him to hospital. She did not sign any consent form to send Darshan to the Unity Foundation Rehab Centre, theyalleged. Theysaid SHRC did not take any action against the police personnel for the alleged torture and human rights violation. The government should ensure the safety of Darshans family members, especially his wife, and order a judicial inquiry intohis death,it added. Darshans wife Ashwini told that police officers visited her house and offered money, asking hernot to go ahead with the case. I dont want money. I have a two-year-old daughter. I want justice. That is why we are here. No one should face this situation, she said. Adilakshmi stated that the police had brutally assaulted her son with lathis and pipes inside the station. They shifted him to the rehabilitation centre to hush up the custodial torture. Darshan was not given medical help at the rehabilitationcentre despite visible injuries and his inability to walk. Darshan had bruises on his chest, swollen hands, injuries on his left leg, and a wound on his shin when he was brought to the government hospital at Nelamangala. Madanayakanahalli police have registered a case against the Viveknagar police inspector, three policemen, including Pavan, and the owner and staff of the rehabilitation centre under Sections 103 (punishment for murder), 127 (wrongful confinement), and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Bengaluru to get 4,500 more electric buses under PM e-Drive Scheme
BENGALURU: Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will get 4,500 more electric buses under the PMs e-Drive Scheme with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) finalising bids last month, according to Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma. The minister was responding to a question by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha. Surya had sought details on the number of buses sanctioned, funds allocated, operational status, and the reasons for the delay. In his reply, the minister said under the scheme, 4,500 e-buses have been allotted to BMTC. These buses are among the 10,900 e-buses for which bids were finalised by CESL on November 14. Procurement and deployment of these buses are on. Under the FAME-II Scheme, BMTC received 1,221 e-buses and Rs 517.23 crore as central assistance. All 1,221 buses have been deployed. Bengaluru did not receive any buses under the earlier FAME Scheme, despite Karnataka getting 425 buses, the minister said. According to information provided by the minister, 6,862 electric buses have been deployed in the state under the FAME-II Scheme and 13,800 under the PM e-Drive Scheme. 236 charging stations set up In all, 236 electric vehicle charging stations have been set up across four major corridors in Bengaluru, the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries told Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan in the Lok Sabha. In a written reply, the minister said oil marketing companies (OMCs) have set up 236 EV charging stations across these corridors, including 109 on Bengaluru-Pune Highway (NH 48), 64 on Bengaluru-Hyderabad Highway (NH 44), 33 on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway (NH 275), and 30 on Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway. However, it was clarified that no centralised data is available on battery-swapping stations, nor has any study been conducted to assess whether the current infrastructure is adequate for heavy EVs such as electric buses and freight trucks.
Fund allotment to local bodies declining in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state governments actual fund allotment to local self-government institutions (LSGI) has seen a significant drop in recent years. The total amount sanctioned to the three-tier LSGIs steadily declined from Rs 11,400 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 9,050 crore in 2023-24. In the latest year for which actual accounts are available, 2023-24, the transfer was Rs 5,100 crore less than the Budget allocation. The core of Keralas decentralisation is a formula-based equitable devolution of untied funds to local bodies. The sanction is in three streams a general purpose fund to meet traditional functions and establishment expenses, maintenance fund for assets management, and a development fund to meet development expenditures. Other LSGI revenue sources are Central Finance Commission awards and own funds. As per the formula devised by the State Finance Commission (SFC), the state government is bound to transfer 4% of States Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) to the general purpose fund and 6.5% to the maintenance fund. A portion of the state plan outlay is devolved as the development fund. An analysis of fund transfers in recent years showed that the government failed in its devolution commitment. In 2023-24, Budget allocations for the general purpose fund, maintenance fund and the development fund were Rs 2,244.30 crore, Rs 3,646.99 crore and Rs 8,258 crore respectively. At the same time, the actual receipts were lower Rs 1,675.96 crore, Rs 1,344.81 crore and Rs 6,029 crore respectively. The drop, however, was not due to a decline in the SOTR. In fact, the tax revenue, Rs 74,329.01 crore, was 3% higher than the previous year. Based on the tax revenue, local bodies were eligible for amounts even higher than the budget allocation Rs 2,973.16 crore as the general purpose fund and Rs 4,831.39 crore as the maintenance fund. Sources in the LSG department attributed the declining share to the fiscal strain of the government and the unprofessional functioning of LSGIs. Treasury restrictions were in place for most of the year, which slowed bill payments. Also, most of the LSGIs do not plan and execute work in a timely manner. They undertake a major portion of work in the latter half of the financial year, and by that time, treasury restrictions would be severe, said an officer. The State Finance Commission does not have a role in ensuring that the devolution formula is followed intact. The commissions responsibility ends with the submission of recommendation on the formula, said a source. Devolution index: Kerala ranked 2nd Even as the state governments share declines, Kerala still fares better than most of its counterparts in devolution to panchayats. The state is positioned second, after Karnataka, in the devolution index in Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States 2024 published by the Indian Institute of Public Administration. Kerala occupies first place in Framework, second position in Accountability and Finances, and ranks third in the dimension of Functionaries. The dimension of Finances carried the maximum weightage in the index. This dimension was based on several indicators like timely release of the 15th Finance Commission grants to panchayats, regular and effective functioning of SFC, SFC transfer to panchayats, power to collect revenue, funds available with panchayats, expenditure by panchayats as percentage of states public expenditure, and accounts and budget. The state has tried to devolve most of its functions to panchayats and has at the same time maintained a transparent system of transferring money under the panchayats window. The institution of the State Finance Commission in Kerala has emerged to be the most effective in the recent past. Panchayats in Kerala utilise funds adequately and share the top slot as far as the indicator related to fund utilisation is concerned, the report said.
Indian Railways announces new stops for Vande Bharat Express on Pune-Hubli and CSMT-Solapur routes at Kirloskarwadi and Daund stations. The move enhances regional connectivity, offering passengers faster, premium travel. The future Vande Bharat 4.0 aims to set global standards in rail technology.
Keralas startup funding doubles to USD 14.7 million in 2025
KOCHI: Despite fears of funding winter and tougher valuations, Keralas startups have made a big comeback this year. They raised $14.7 million in the first nine months of 2025 a 147 per cent surge from $6 million during the same period last year, according to Tracxns Kerala Tech Ecosystem Wrap Report . The sharp rise comes despite a drop in deal volumes, indicating deeper investor bets on select high-potential ventures, according to the report by the data intelligence platform. Keralas tech ecosystem is steadily maturing, supported by a strong educational foundation, emerging innovation hubs, and increasing investor participation, said Neha Singh, co-founder of Tracxn. The rise in early-stage funding this year reflects growing confidence in the states deeptech and hardware-focused startups, she added. The latest numbers highlight the volatility of Keralas funding landscape over the years. Funding had peaked at $24 million in the first nine months (9M) of 2022 before cooling in 2023 and 2024, and this years surge marks a decisive recovery. State ranks 13th in startup funding; Ktaka tops chart Across the eight 9M periods between 2018 and 2025, inflows have ranged widely from a low of $7.1 million in 2019 to the 2022 high. But compared to other Indian states, Kerala ranks 13th in startup funding in the first nine months of 2025. Karnataka tops the chart with $2.6 billion, followed by Maharashtra at $2 billion, and Delhi at $1.4 billion. Early-stage capital dominated the ecosystem in 2025, accounting for $12.4 million almost entirely driven by semiconductor startup Netrasemis Series A round, which also made it the top-funded startup of the year. Seed funding contributed $2.3 million, while no late-stage rounds were recorded. Only nine equity rounds were closed in 9M 2025, down from 18 a year earlier, but the emergence of five first-time funded startups, one new Soonicorn startup that is likely to become unicorn in the near future and a notable acquisition signal continued pipeline strength. Along with Netrasemis big-ticket round backed by Unicorn India Ventures, Maithan Alloys, and Zoho, other key fund raises included MyDesignations $1.3 million seed round, and smaller tickets into startups such as I Hub Robotics, AugSenseLab, and FemiSafe.
'You are missing something in life': Karnataka CM to 'pure' vegetarian reporter
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's comment to a female reporter that she was missing something in life for being a strict vegetarian has garnered attention. The remark was made during a breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, where their differing food preferences were highlighted.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar shared a 'naati koli'-powered breakfast at Shivakumar's residence to project unity and quell rumors of a leadership change. The meal, featuring traditional dishes, was followed by a press conference where both leaders emphasized their brotherhood and commitment to working together.
Amar Subramanya: Bengaluru boy chosen to reboot Apples AI strategy
Bengaluru-born engineer Amar Subramanya, a Google and Microsoft veteran, has been appointed Apple's new VP of AI. This high-profile move signals Apple's intensified efforts in the AI race. Subramanya, with expertise in semi-supervised learning and NLP, will lead foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety, aiming to revitalize Siri and boost Apple's AI capabilities against rivals.
Senior citizens make a master stroke at swim meet
When the whistle blew, swimmers dove in, aiming to finish first. Among them, Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh, princess of Vijayanagaram, powered ahead with efficient strokes and flutter kicks to win gold in the 50m freestyle at the 21st National Masters Swim Meet in Hyderabad held between November 21 and 23. The 72-year-old won four medals in the womens category: gold in 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and silver in 100m freestyle. At first glance, the Masters Swim Meet appears to be any other sporting event. But the story behind each splash is different. These athletes aged 25 years and above are individuals who returned to the water at a different phase in life, simply because they never stopped swimming. Among them is 76-year-old Arun Krishnan, one of Indias oldest Ironman triathletes, who has competed in the Masters for over a decade. I started swimming at the age of 13, when I was in the College of Engineering, Guindy. I used to participate in competitions. And then, I made it to the state-level competition in those days, he recalls. From intercollegiate to national-level championship, it is his years of discipline, stamina, and personal rigour that have built his competitive spirit. For the past 10 years, I have been swimming in various age categories. Starting from 60-65, to now 75-79, he adds. As a triathlete, swimming is an integral part of Aruns training. Swimming is something very essential, and I keep in touch with it, he notes. His favourite is the 400m freestyle, where endurance, rhythm, and an almost meditative focus are prerequisites. He shares, For longer distances like 400 metres, the idea is to keep on pushing right throughout. And you get into a nice rhythm. It is very blissful. At this edition of the Masters, he walked away with two silvers in the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle in the 75-79 category. Hurdles and motivation The win came at a moment when the lack of support laid bare the gaps in the system. The Tamil Nadu government did not extend any support. When players from Karnataka and other states wore state jerseys in matching colours, we were the only people who didnt, he rues. What disappoints him more is the absence of a state-assembled Masters team. I dont think I have ever seen a Tamil Nadu state team. Sufficient importance is not given to the masters because we are not exactly going to bring laurels at a national-level meet. Arun presses for the governments initiative to form a team. He wishes, If we had a team, we could have secured several points and eventually won the championship. Despite these hurdles, the meet remains deeply motivating. Arun reflects on competitors who inspire him. Most of the people who do well there are those who have been national champions. I have learned from the competitor who beat me, who won the gold this year. The person was a national champion about 40 years ago. Their longevity in the sport, he notes, is not accidental. What I learnt is that these people keep in touch with the sport and remain fit. Some of them even work for the government and government organisations. And if they secure a victory at the Masters Meet, I think that helps them with their promotions. For Arun, the meet is also about health as much as medals. It is essentially fitness and also helps in mental faculties. I have learned from doctors that aerobic exercises help in keeping oneself mentally alert right throughout. Vidya Gajapathi Raju Grit and glory With the same level of enthusiasm for fitness, Vidya added swimming as another dimension to my fitness routine 15 years ago, and I found I was really enjoying it. Her relationship with water began quite early. From the age of four or five, Ive been swimming. I grew up with a swimming pool at home, but I never used it for exercise, as I was a tennis player. Then, 10 years ago, we (from Madras Club) went for our first national Masters event in Bhopal. Since then, she has participated in eight national Masters competitions. The competitive and encouraging environment makes her want to return every year. Its highly inspiring because there are about 800 to 900 swimmers who come from all over India. Its extraordinary, she says. Vidya admits that each year she learns something new from her fellow players and levels up her game in each competition. She celebrates the diversity among the swimmers. A lot of these swimmers have come out of national events; some have represented India in international swimming events, a lot of sports quota students and job seekers, some of them are coaches, and then there are people, like me, who are recreational swimmers. Vidyas practice sessions reflect her passion for the sport. Her workouts at the Madras Club involve swimming 80 lengths of the club pool, which is a 2km swim in freestyle and breaststroke. At this point, I feel I am fitter today at 72 than I was when I was 30, she says. Along with Arun and Vidya, Venkataraman and Geetha Venkataraman from Tamil Nadu also participated. Their journey shows the true spirit of the Masters Meet. They not just strive for records, but the pursuit of possibilities. These participants in water find a version of themselves that is alive, fitter, and is learning throughout.
Beyond visual language: B'luru on blending language pride with cinema
In Karnataka, where audiences regularly hop between Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, a movie poster isnt just a marketing tool anymore; it has become a symbol in the language conversation. Recently, actor Upendra defended the Kannada-first stance, stating the need for the language to appear on all film posters released in the state, echoing tensions that surfaced months ago when a Telugu poster of actor and politican Pawan Kalyans Hari Hara Veera Mallu was torn down. This has put a spotlight on the issue and question: what language should dominate the states film promotions? With fans exchanging opinions online, we ask film fraternity members and enthusiasts what they make of the issue, to understand how Bengalureans feel about language, identity and cinema today. Behind the Scenes On the release day of Hari Hara Veera Mallu in July, a group of self-identified Kannada activists stormed into a theatre in Bengaluru and tore down the films Telugu posters. Their protest centred on the absence of Kannada on the promotional material, despite the movie releasing across Karnataka. Videos of the incident went viral, fuelling arguments between Kannada and Telugu film fans. While activists claimed that including Kannada on posters is a basic sign of respect for the states language and audience, others criticised the act as extreme, noting that poster language choices are conventionally driven by marketing strategy. Sourabha Rao, documentary filmmaker I never condone vandalism or violence in any context. The need of the hour is understanding that every language deserves dignity in its own home. What happened with the tearing of a Kalyans film poster is a symptom of a larger ache of a language that has nourished millions and yet often finds itself unheard in its own courtyard. Let no language be diminished: let Telugu flourish, let Hindi breathe, but let Kannada not become the silent host. A reasonable way forward arises from reciprocity, not compulsion. Its not about supremacy but recognition. In the context of the Telugu poster and Upendras response, even the activist said include Kannada, not replace the original language. Anjan A Bharadwaj, actor Language becomes key when it comes to identity, representation and local sentiment. People feel strongly about their mother tongue, and thats valid. At the same time, cinema should remain a space where multiple cultures coexist without friction. One should celebrate the diversity of Indian cinema instead of turning it into a language war. Steffi J Menon, content writer Theres a part of me that understands where the sentiments stem from, but the act of tearing down the posters can never be justified. Cinema today is beyond any medium or language. Ultimately, it is the story and word of mouth that decides the fate of a film. Having Kannada on posters released in the state or posters in both languages feels ideal, plus everything else done to and for the film are just additions, and ultimately the film will indeed speak for itself. As long as a film is made with the right intentions and is a good film, it will always find its audience. Anand Varadaraj, festival director When a film enters Karnataka, it steps into a state with a deep cultural memory and a strong emotional bond with its language. It isnt about imposition but about acknowledging the audience you are inviting into theatres. A simple line in Kannada doesnt dilute anyones identity. It signals respect and says you see the people who live here. Upendras comment gets to the heart of this. He didnt frame it as aggression or regionalism, he spoke about courtesy. He also pointed out that films like Pushpa did well in Karnataka, not because of posters or politics, but because good cinema travels. His point is simple: respecting Kannada costs nothing and strengthens bonds between industries. Mahi Aneja, recent graduate South Indian states have a personal bond with their language and are proud of it. I dont think there are many parts of the world where you will see a film being dubbed into three or four different languages, but it is the norm here. The audience expecting creators to cater to them (with the posters language) is very basic. Even from a marketing perspective, at the end of the day, you want your film to make money and reach people. If people feel the film is excluding them, they will not watch it. Siddu Moolimani, actor Language definitely plays an important role in a film because it shows the roots and nativity of a place. Since the film is being shown in Karnataka, including Kannada would be an honour for the state. Weve always seen films being dubbed and shown in Kannada on big channels, with titles and fonts already presented in the language, which helps the films reach people. In the same way, when Kannada films like KGF are shown elsewhere, they display titles in multiple languages. A film isnt someones property, it should be accessible to everyone.
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